[1] For his first major work, Cinderella at School, Morse borrowed scenery and convinced a group of amateurs to produce the show at Springfield, Massachusetts.

[4]In the 1880s, Morse and another Bostonian, J. Cheever Goodwin, were small part actors in various benefits for notables at Boston theaters.

According to The New York Times, "Trained in musical composition in Germany, he was one of the first wholly capable American comic-opera composers.

Morse refused, however, and continued to compose pieces for New York production... with the aid of harmonium, at which he always wrote his music".

Having suffered from stomach hemorrhages for the previous six years, Morse died on May 3, 1897, at his home in New York City.